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Virgin Blue Opens Its First Australian Freight Facility In Hobart - Half A Million Dollar Infrastructure Investment For Tasmania

24/01/2007

Virgin Blue will today officially open its first Australian based dedicated freight facility at Hobart Airport.

Virgin Blue Freight will throw open the doors to its 1000 square metre purpose built facility this afternoon as part of its long term strategy to further develop its freight operation. The facility will be the operational base for Virgin Blue freight movements in and out of Hobart and was built at a cost of half a million dollars. Among the features is a cool room to protect temperature sensitive goods such as food and flowers.

Up until now, Virgin Blue Freight operated from the passenger terminal area but an increase in business has prompted the construction of the dedicated facility.

Virgin Blue Freight transports a variety of goods ranging from pets, post and produce to flowers, seafood, medical supplies and car parts, moving approximately 1.2 million kilograms each year from Hobart. The majority is for International export to Asia.

Virgin Blue Chief Operations Officer, Andrew David, said, "Our freight team has worked hard over the past five years to build up a reputable and robust freight operation. This new building is our first purpose built freight facility in the country and the fact it is in Hobart is a direct reflection on the level of importance Virgin Blue Freight places on Tasmania."

He continued, "The airfreight business is particularly critical to Tasmania in terms of both importing goods to the state as well as exporting world famous Tasmanian products and produce to other parts of the country."

The increase in the number of Virgin Blue flights in and out of Tasmania over the past few years has allowed the freight business to expand. Virgin Blue now operates 29 direct flights a week between Melbourne and Hobart, 14 direct services between Hobart and Sydney and seven direct weekly services between Hobart and Brisbane and Adelaide.

"The close relationship we have with the Hobart Airport team was instrumental in the construction of the freight terminal, which will play a key role in streamlining the handling of freight for all customers, be it individuals or companies such as Virgin Blue's majority owner, Toll Holdings."

Andrew David continued, "The new dedicated facility at Hobart, together with the existing leased facility at Launceston airport means that Virgin Blue Freight is able to better cater for Tasmania's air transport needs. We are excited to be providing new investment and new infrastructure for Tasmanian based clients and travellers who have given both Virgin Blue and Virgin Blue Freight rousing support."